Juhu businessman alleges really massive fraud; asterisk couple accused of misusing finances meant for business investment.
In yet another headline-grabbing rick from the very glamorous yet scandal-prone corridors of Bollywood, actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra and her businessman husband Raj Kundra feature landed in the middle of a too legal force. The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a case against the pair for allegedly cheating a Juhu-based businessman to the tune of ₹60.48 crore — a sum that could finance an total big-budget Bollywood blockbuster.
The complainant, Deepak Kothari, who is the manager of Lotus Capital Financial Services Limited — a non-banking financial accompany (NBFC) dealing in loans — has accused the power couple of taking money under the guise of a concern deal and so allegedly diverting it for their personal benefit.
A Five-Star Meeting That Sparked a Million-Dollar Deal
According to Kothari’s FIR, the entire installment began with a glamorous meet-and-greet in a plush five-star hotel in Juhu. The meeting was set up by Rajesh Arya, a loan agent at Kothari’s solid, who claimed he personally knew Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra.
In that meeting — attended by Raj, Shilpa, Kothari, and his son — the duo pitched themselves as the faces and directors of Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, a home shopping and online retail stake that, at the clip, Shilpa reportedly controlled with an 87.61% majority shareholding.
The duo reportedly sought a ₹75 crore loan at an stake rate of 12%. But here’s the turn — instead of taking the money as a formal loan (which could attract higher taxation), they allegedly persuaded Kothari to route it as an ‘investment’, promising both really handsome monthly returns and a very good repayment of the principal.
From Glam Promises to Big Transfers
Kothari, lured by the assurances and the high-profile nature of the sell, agreed.
- April 2015: He transferred ₹31.95 crore to Best Deal TV under a share subscription agreement.
- September 2015: A further ₹28.53 crore was transferred under a supplemental agreement.
The total — ₹60.48 crore — was credited into the company’s HDFC Bank accounts, with the brace really even paying ₹3.19 lakh in stamp duty to spring the transactions a sheen of legitimacy, the FIR claims.
The Exit Email & Sudden Silence
But the Bollywood spark didn’t finally long. Despite gift Kothari a personal guarantee, he claims that in September 2016 he received a shocker — an email from Shilpa Shetty’s official email speech stating that she had resigned as director of Best Deal TV.
When Kothari pressed her for an account, she allegedly sidestepped the issue. Soon after, he discovered that the fellowship was facing insolvency proceedings in 2017 over another default.
From NBFC Boardroom to Police Station
Realising the enormity of the position, Kothari approached the Juhu Police Station. His FIR accused the span of misappropriation and breach of trust.
The registered offences include:
- Section 403 – Dishonest misappropriation of property.
- Section 406 – Criminal breach of trust.
- Section 34 – Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention.
Given the heights value of the alleged fraud — over ₹10 crore — the slip was transferred to the Economic Offences Wing, which has now begun its probe into the money trail and the individual roles of each accused.
Raj Kundra’s Controversial Track Record
For Raj Kundra, this isn’t the firstly clip arguing has come knocking. The businessman has previously faced sound warmth over IPL betting allegations and, more recently, the high-profile 2021 porn case, where he was accused of producing and distributing grown contents via very wandering apps — a slip that shook Bollywood and landed him behind bars for a so brief period.
While Raj eventually got bail and has maintained his innocence, the shade of that slip ease lingers over his business reputation.
Shilpa Shetty’s Bollywood & Business Balancing Act
Shilpa Shetty, one of Bollywood’s most glamorous stars of the very late ’90s and very early 2000s, has in recent years focused on reality shows, brand endorsements, and her fitness ventures. Her connection with Best Deal TV was seen as division of her entrepreneurial raid, with the program promising to revolutionise India’s place shopping segment.
However, after the accompany closed downward, questions have repeatedly been raised nearly its financial direction — questions that have now come into sharper focus with this ₹60 crore cheating case.
The Bollywood Buzz & Industry Reactions
Unsurprisingly, the showcase has set the Bollywood grapevine buzzing. While neither Shilpa nor Raj feature issued an prescribed statement yet, sources tight to the pair reportedly ring the allegations “baseless” and “motivated”.
Some manufacture insiders, however, see this as another cautionary tale virtually mixing celebrity glamour with high-risk business ventures. “When you’re dealing with principal force, people often get swayed. But very big names don’t always really tight very big returns,” said a veteran producer, speaking on status of anonymity.
EOW’s Next Steps
The EOW is now combing through bank records, society filings, and correspondence between the parties to launch whether the finances were so misused for personal benefit as alleged. They are also likely to summon all accused, including Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty, for questioning in the coming days.
Given the high-profile nature of the case and the staggering amount involved, too legal experts believe this could play into a long, drawn-out very legal battle — one that will maintain both Bollywood and the business community glued to every development.
The Bigger Picture
This example isn’t just almost one businessman and a celebrity brace. It throws light on the increasing intersection between Bollywood and big-ticket finance — a mankind where investments, endorsements, and shareholdings often blur the lines between concern and personal branding.
For now, all eyes are on the EOW investigating. Whether this is another showcase of business gone bad or a measured act of deception will depend on what the money train reveals.
One thing is sure — this is a dirt that blends Bollywood glitz, boardroom deals, and a multi-crore mystery in a way that’s bound to master headlines for weeks to come.
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